Oh fuck off Assange

[ono]

Didn't everyone like this guy a few weeks ago?

[El Kabong]

Didn't everyone like this guy a few weeks ago?

No

[Kev]

Didn't everyone like this guy a few weeks ago?

I must admit, I never disapproved of the first big leak they did, that American gunship civilain massacre. I did feel that that was in the public interest for us to at least know about. When you consider the international furore caused by the Israeli's killing Turkish 'peace activist's' in that flotilla incident, this seemed like it should at least merit some discussion and investigation.

The trouble with Assange as I see it is that he is not trying to expose a particular corruption or cover ups. Rather he is just on a mission tear back the veil revealing how governments work in private, and showing us any and every discussion and correspondence he can get his hands on.

Nothing is off limits to him, he will just put everything on show whether it details corruption or not, or is in the public interest or not.

I cannot see how a supposedly moral man like Miles can endorse him. If the American government acted this way he would be absolutely disgusted.

I mean didn't he create a thread saying America had 'lost it's mind' because of the x-ray scanners at airports now? He sees that as a gross invasion of privacy, even though no images are recorded, the only person who sees the footage is in a back room away from the check in and never sees the actual passengers, and the American government is responding to a clear and proven risk of terrorism.

He's so hypocritical on the issue.

If Assange was like Daniel Ellsberg, i.e a man of integrity trying to highlight blatent mistruths told to the American people regarding their entry into war with Vietnam, of which he himself had been part, and who was blowing the whistle on the corruption and lies in order to save lives I could get behind him.

But he's not. He has no moral agenda, just a belief that there should be nothing private and confidential or classified in government and that he has the right to steal, or at least be an acomplice to the theft of such classified documents for theft's sake.

What corruption was he trying to unroot and expose when he released these 250,000 cables? As we have seen so far, even Miles admits there is none. So it's not whistle blowing, it's just theft and espionage and in my opinion an act of terrorism purely to satisfy some power trip that he has.

Thanks to him the American government will tighten up its security now, and will exert a more iron grip on the internet much like China does. He has only made things worse, and for what? America actually looks pretty good so far thanks to his releases, which rather hilariously has prompted those who need to slam America at all costs to claim that he was obviously being unwittingly fed information by the CIA who ensured that only cables that were showing America in a good light would be exposed.

So what he has done is the equivilent of police breaking into a house with no search warrant, of an occupant on no charges, and photographed, categorised, itemised all of his household contents, computer and telephone activity etc and publicly revealed it to the world, only for him to have no incriminating evidence against him at all.

Miles would most definitely not approve of police acting in such an unlawful manner yet Assange to his blinkered eyes is acting in an entirely appropriate and moral way.

He is even angry that they are trying to press Bradley Manning to confirm him as an accomplice as if this shows more corruption in America. What does he seriously expect, that America should react positively to a man stealing classified informtion and listen carefully to his admonishments?

Assange is the law breaker here, and he deserves to be treated as such.

[Gandalf]

Didn't everyone like this guy a few weeks ago?

I must admit, I never disapproved of the first big leak they did, that American gunship civilain massacre. I did feel that that was in the public interest for us to at least know about. When you consider the international furore caused by the Israeli's killing Turkish 'peace activist's' in that flotilla incident, this seemed like it should at least merit some discussion and investigation.

The trouble with Assange as I see it is that he is not trying to expose a particular corruption or cover ups. Rather he is just on a mission tear back the veil revealing how governments work in private, and showing us any and every discussion and correspondence he can get his hands on.

Nothing is off limits to him, he will just put everything on show whether it details corruption or not, or is in the public interest or not.

I cannot see how a supposedly moral man like Miles can endorse him. If the American government acted this way he would be absolutely disgusted.

I mean didn't he create a thread saying America had 'lost it's mind' because of the x-ray scanners at airports now? He sees that as a gross invasion of privacy, even though no images are recorded, the only person who sees the footage is in a back room away from the check in and never sees the actual passengers, and the American government is responding to a clear and proven risk of terrorism.

He's so hypocritical on the issue.

If Assange was like Daniel Ellsberg, i.e a man of integrity trying to highlight blatent mistruths told to the American people regarding their entry into war with Vietnam, of which he himself had been part, and who was blowing the whistle on the corruption and lies in order to save lives I could get behind him.

But he's not. He has no moral agenda, just a belief that there should be nothing private and confidential or classified in government and that he has the right to steal, or at least be an acomplice to the theft of such classified documents for theft's sake.

What corruption was he trying to unroot and expose when he released these 250,000 cables? As we have seen so far, even Miles admits there is none. So it's not whistle blowing, it's just theft and espionage and in my opinion an act of terrorism purely to satisfy some power trip that he has.

Thanks to him the American government will tighten up its security now, and will exert a more iron grip on the internet much like China does. He has only made things worse, and for what? America actually looks pretty good so far thanks to his releases, which rather hilariously has prompted those who need to slam America at all costs to claim that he was obviously being unwittingly fed information by the CIA who ensured that only cables that were showing America in a good light would be exposed.

So what he has done is the equivilent of police breaking into a house with no search warrant, of an occupant on no charges, and photographed, categorised, itemised all of his household contents, computer and telephone activity etc and publicly revealed it to the world, only for him to have no incriminating evidence against him at all.

Miles would most definitely not approve of police acting in such an unlawful manner yet Assange to his blinkered eyes is acting in an entirely appropriate and moral way.

He is even angry that they are trying to press Bradley Manning to confirm him as an accomplice as if this shows more corruption in America. What does he seriously expect, that America should react positively to a man stealing classified informtion and listen carefully to his admonishments?

Assange is the law breaker here, and he deserves to be treated as such.

Bilbo, a government should exist and operate in the interests of the voters who elected them. Take that footage of the helicopter guy shooting dead the Iraqi's and the Reuter's reporters. When you have a war that has already been built upon lies and then show actual footage of actual war crimes being commited, then that is simply revealing to the public the truth of a situation. The media should have been against the war from the start and then when you factor in that the war is not only immoral, but that innocent people are being blown up everyday, well that changes the picture and public sentiment changes. Do you really think that this particular footage should have been allowed to stay hidden by the US government? Bradley Manning did a lot of public good in doing what he did. What he did was undoubtedly criminal, but to reveal truth which the government would much rather conceal? That is a noble and brave act. I am against governments that distort, lie and and ultimately do not act in the interests of their populations. Invading Iraq and murdering civilians has done nothing to protect US citizens. What it has done though is extend the influence of the US elite in the region and it has all been paid for with taxpayer money. That is quite terrible.

And yes, I am against body scanners being used at airports. They violate an individual and presuppose that he/she is a potential terrorist. I am all for individuals maintaining their privacy and being able to live life free of spying and government prying. However, if someone has footage of a friend raping someone and hands it over to the authorities, then that is perfectly justified. What isn't justified is to then have a camera in every home and for the government to tell us that it is for the national good and that it is for our own protection. Bradley Manning commited a crime here, but the US goverment tried to cover up a much bigger crime. It was in the public interest to reveal that footage, just as it is in the public footage to reveal to the police that your friend raped someone.

Bradley Manning did what he did and will pay the penalty for it. He is a criminal, but are those people who shot dead those Iraqi's also suffering the same fate? I bet you the answer is a resounding no. I have absolutely no qualms with moral people deciding to blow the whistle on government corruption, but I do have issues with private citizens being spied on by governments. I do not think spying on Joe Bloggs is in the national interest, but to reveal war crimes certainly is.

It is important to realise that a government is not an individual, but is a vast concentration of power. It needs to be checked. Individuals need protection, governments need accountability.